Syracuse to the ACC: What Has Happened and What Could Happen Moving Forward

Wow. Being at Syracuse as this whole ACC debacle ensues is something else. Fan reaction is about as mixed as you can imagine (future article in the works) and ultimately the sources, information and actual facts of what ensued over the weekend are about as spread out as a Mike Leach offense.

-SU had always been looking to move from the Big East. Rumors about moving to the ACC had started Week 1, and Wake Forest seemed to know something we did not. As I reported earlier, in my panel with Stan Cotton, Wake had seemed very open to Syracuse moving to the ACC and sounded as if the discussion had already taken place within the ACC.

-The whole situation arose with the supposed demise of the Big 12. Texas and Texas Tech were and still are looking for security. They turned to the ACC, who was not sure how to handle the Longhorn Network.

-Enter Pitt. Pitt was aghast that the Big East was seriously considering adding Villanova as a legitimate football school. Pitt sensed that the Big East was weakening and wanted out.

-The ACC and Pitt realize they have mutual interests and decide to join forces. Syracuse, also wanting out of a Big East that has changed since it’s inception, decides to jump on with Pitt and we have what transpired this past weekend.

Now of course all of this is speculative and as many a tweeter pointed out, the exact details will never be released.

What we do know is that the official statements from Pitt and Syracuse have everyone putting on a happy face and staying relatively mum on the details. Now that the paperwork is in, there is still speculation over who will join Syracuse and Pitt in jumping the Big East’s sinking ship.

Is Syracuse to the ACC a smart move?

Yes it needed to be done ASAP.No, Cuse should have stayed put.Yes but I don't like how it was done.I am still not sure. Submit Votevote to see results

Is Syracuse to the ACC a smart move?

Yes it needed to be done ASAP.

52.1%

No, Cuse should have stayed put.

16.9%

Yes but I don't like how it was done.

14.1%

I am still not sure.

Now for a big question: What will happen next for Syracuse? Well, the immediate is a little hazy.

The $5 million buyout is not an issue for Syracuse (I know, I pay a pretty penny in that tuition check) but the 27-month-long wait is something a little less concrete. If the Big East plays this by the book, Syracuse and Pitt cannot complete the move until December of 2013, resulting in 2-3 lame duck seasons of Big East play (depending on how the late in 2013 conference play is scheduled and/or counted).

We will see who wins the stalemate.

The next big question: How will Syracuse fit in? Well there are three definite facts about this matter:

1) Football benefits because of name brand only. The ACC is a better conference, better competition and has everything a BCS conference is supposed to have. Syracuse will not be immediate contenders, but they will not be basement dwellers.

2) Basketball-wise, this move is great. Hence why the ACC loves it. All of the sudden, the Oakland Zoo, Carrier Dome, Cameron Indoor Stadium and Dean Smith Center are all in one conference and legendary coaches are slated to play several times a year against one another. The ACC looks more like the old Big East-smaller basketball centered schools that can also play football (with obvious exceptions). That may also be because this is the second successful time the ACC has raided the Big East.

The normally quiet, civilized and peace-loving ACC will have to get used to Boeheim saying these things until the move is finalized. Then the comments will be aimed directly at their teams. Interestingly enough, there is a chance Boeheim never gets that chance.

Remember, he has publicly announced he is done after four years. Some fans who have been around this university a lot longer than I have told me that they would not be surprised if Boeheim and the Big East both leave Syracuse at the same time.

So what do you think readers? Is the ACC is good home? Will we ever know the real details? Will a new chapter in Syracuse basketball be opened with the move?

Tweet me your answers @acpregler or leave comments below to help me put together the true fan reaction to the ACC move.